Matthew 19:10
What does Matthew 19:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 19:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 19:10 means
Upon hearing Jesus's strict teaching on marriage—that it is for life except for serious sexual sin—the disciples concluded that if such were the case, it would be better not to marry at all. Their reaction reveals how revolutionary and challenging Jesus's words were, particularly in a culture where divorce was relatively common. They perceived the lifelong commitment and limited grounds for divorce as a burdensome and perhaps impractical standard.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.
KJV
King James Version · 1611His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The disciples say to him, If this is the position of a man in relation to his wife, it is better not to be married.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862His disciples say to him, `If the case of the man with the woman is so, it is not good to marry.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890His disciples say to him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Context
This verse immediately captures the disciples' shocked reaction to Jesus's stringent teaching on divorce in verse 9. Their statement reveals the cultural norm of their day regarding marriage and highlights how radical Jesus's demand for lifelong commitment was. This sets up Jesus's subsequent teaching on the gift of singleness for the kingdom's sake.
v.9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.
v.10This passage
v.11But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 21:19
It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
- 1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- Proverbs 5:15
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
- 1 Timothy 5:11
But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;
- Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
- 1 Corinthians 7:26
I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
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